Q: Why does the program only recruit people <35?

The Andrew T. Huang Medical Education Promotion Fund has a New School program that works with National Chengchi University to award an EMBA to scholars who are 35 and above. The Shi Scholarship program is designed to identify and nurture emerging leaders in the healthcare industry. We believe that individuals under the age of 35 are at a stage in their careers where they are poised to take on leadership roles and make a significant impact in the field. By focusing on younger individuals, we are able to identify those who have the potential to become future leaders in healthcare and provide them with the skills and experience needed to succeed. Finally, we understand that age is just one factor to consider when selecting Shi Scholars. We are committed to diversity and inclusivity and strive to recruit a diverse cohort of scholars each year, regardless of age.

Q: What is the cost of the program?

The application is free, and financial aid is provided to eligible scholars based on need. The program aims to enable scholars to pursue graduate-level educational opportunities without financial burden.

Q: How does the scholarship calculate my need-based aid for living expenses?

The scholarship follows a straightforward two‑step process: Household Resources Snapshot – All cash income, major assets, and any financial help you receive (including from a spouse or, if you are still substantially supported, your parents) are tallied. Allowances are then made for dependents and for how much you have realistically been able to save given your career stage. This yields an “adjusted income” figure meant to reflect your true capacity to meet living costs. Sliding-Scale Coverage – If your adjusted income falls below a lower threshold, the scholarship covers approved living expenses in full. If it sits above an upper threshold, no living-expense support is granted. Between those two points, coverage tapers gradually, so the higher your adjusted income, the smaller the living-expense award. Essential academic costs—tuition, mandatory fees, health insurance, and required course materials—are covered up to the maximum cap, regardless of your adjusted income or the sliding scale.

Q: I haven't been accepted into the Stanford or Duke programs yet. Can I still apply?

Yes. You should submit your Shi Wen-Ling Scholarship application before you receive a university admission offer. The review committee assesses your leadership potential, intended field of study, and proposed project while you are still working on graduate-school applications. Funding becomes final once you secure acceptance to an eligible master’s program, but applying early lets the scholarship team begin guiding you through next steps.

Q: Is the application available in Chinese?

The Shi Scholarship application is currently only available to applicants with proficiency in the English language. Because the program sends fellows abroad to pursue educational opportunities in English-speaking countries, it is important for us to assess the candidate's ability to communicate in English.

Q: How should recommendation letters be submitted?

You may collect scanned PDF copies of the signed letters and submit them by email along with the rest of your application materials, or your recommenders may email their signed letters to us directly. Sealed hard copies are not required.Please note that all application materials, including recommendation letters, must be received by the deadline.

Q: If I’m selected in this application cycle, when does the Taiwan training start, and will it be full-time or part-time?

Training begins once your admission to Stanford or Duke is confirmed, which is usually in March or April. The Taiwan portion is part-time—one one-hour Zoom session each week, scheduled early in the morning (e.g., 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays) so you can keep working until you leave for the U.S. master’s program.

Question 1

What is the Shi Scholarship?

Accepted Answer

The Shi Scholarship is tailored specifically for those who have recently graduated from medical school, completed their PGY, or finished their residency. As a scholar of this program, you will have the opportunity to engage with a wealth of resources and support as you work towards addressing some of healthcare's most pressing issues.

We believe that the next generation of medical professionals has the potential to make significant and meaningful contributions to the healthcare industry, and we want to back their immense potential with our support.

Question 2

What makes the Shi Scholarship different from other programs?

Accepted Answer

Shi Scholarship is for life.
We offer access to a global network that will impact scholars throughout their lives. This is the only healthcare training program for medical professionals from Taiwan dedicated to seeing them succeed in the healthcare industry.

Shi Scholarship looks for collaborators.
We aim to foster deeper connections and collaborations between the healthcare systems of Taiwan and the United States. We believe that this will not only benefit the scholars themselves, but also the patients and communities they serve.

Shi Scholarship looks for brilliant physicians.
We are committed to building a community of exceptional individuals who are dedicated to improving the healthcare industry.  Having a diverse group of scholars with diverse skillsets, backgrounds, and experiences is crucial to driving innovation and finding solutions to the complex challenges facing the healthcare industry. By bringing together a group of highly talented and motivated individuals, we can foster a dynamic and collaborative environment where new ideas can thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Question 3

Why does the Shi Scholarship exist?

Accepted Answer

As future medical professionals, it is crucial that we strive to be a part of the next generation of leaders who will solve the world's most pressing problems. Unfortunately, too many talented individuals go unrecognized or face barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential for global impact.

It is crucial that we work to identify and nurture talent from all corners of Taiwan, rather than relying solely on traditional networks. By connecting and supporting exceptional people, we can create a powerful force for positive change and make a meaningful difference in both science and society. This is the goal of this program, and we have the opportunity to be a part of this important mission. Let's make the most of it and make a real impact on the world.

Question 4

Why does the program only recruit people <35?

Accepted Answer

The Andrew T. Huang Medical Education Promotion Fund has a New School program that works with National Chengchi University to award an EMBA to scholars who are 35 and above.

The Shi Scholarship program is designed to identify and nurture emerging leaders in the healthcare industry. We believe that individuals under the age of 35 are at a stage in their careers where they are poised to take on leadership roles and make a significant impact in the field.

By focusing on younger individuals, we are able to identify those who have the potential to become future leaders in healthcare and provide them with the skills and experience needed to succeed.

Finally, we understand that age is just one factor to consider when selecting Shi Scholars. We are committed to diversity and inclusivity and strive to recruit a diverse cohort of scholars each year, regardless of age.

Question 5

What is the cost of the program?

Accepted Answer

The application is free, and financial aid is provided to eligible scholars based on need. The program aims to enable scholars to pursue graduate-level educational opportunities without financial burden.

Question 6

How does the scholarship calculate my need-based aid for living expenses?

Accepted Answer

The scholarship follows a straightforward two‑step process:

Household Resources Snapshot – All cash income, major assets, and any financial help you receive (including from a spouse or, if you are still substantially supported, your parents) are tallied. Allowances are then made for dependents and for how much you have realistically been able to save given your career stage. This yields an “adjusted income” figure meant to reflect your true capacity to meet living costs.
Sliding-Scale Coverage – If your adjusted income falls below a lower threshold, the scholarship covers approved living expenses in full. If it sits above an upper threshold, no living-expense support is granted. Between those two points, coverage tapers gradually, so the higher your adjusted income, the smaller the living-expense award.

Essential academic costs—tuition, mandatory fees, health insurance, and required course materials—are covered up to the maximum cap, regardless of your adjusted income or the sliding scale.

Question 7

I haven't been accepted into the Stanford or Duke programs yet. Can I still apply?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You should submit your Shi Wen-Ling Scholarship application before you receive a university admission offer. The review committee assesses your leadership potential, intended field of study, and proposed project while you are still working on graduate-school applications. Funding becomes final once you secure acceptance to an eligible master’s program, but applying early lets the scholarship team begin guiding you through next steps.

Question 8

Is the application available in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

The Shi Scholarship application is currently only available to applicants with proficiency in the English language. Because the program sends fellows abroad to pursue educational opportunities in English-speaking countries, it is important for us to assess the candidate's ability to communicate in English.

Question 9

How should recommendation letters be submitted?

Accepted Answer

You may collect scanned PDF copies of the signed letters and submit them by email along with the rest of your application materials, or your recommenders may email their signed letters to us directly. Sealed hard copies are not required.Please note that all application materials, including recommendation letters, must be received by the deadline.

Question 10

If I’m selected in this application cycle, when does the Taiwan training start, and will it be full-time or part-time?

Accepted Answer

Training begins once your admission to Stanford or Duke is confirmed, which is usually in March or April. The Taiwan portion is part-time—one one-hour Zoom session each week, scheduled early in the morning (e.g., 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays) so you can keep working until you leave for the U.S. master’s program.

Question 11

What happens if I'm not selected as a Shi Scholar this year?

Accepted Answer

If you were not selected to be a scholar in the current application year, you will have the opportunity to apply again the following year as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

Question 12

I'm still in medical school. Can I apply now?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. The scholarship is for physicians who have already graduated from an accredited Taiwan medical school with their MD. Our applicants are typically recent graduates, PGYs, or residents. An expected-graduation certificate isn't a substitute for the degree, so a current medical student isn't eligible for the cycle in which they apply. The encouraging news is that we run a cycle every year: once you've graduated and obtained your Taiwan medical license, you'd be exactly the kind of candidate we look for, and we'd warmly encourage you to apply then.

Question 13

Can I pose questions to the Shi Scholar staff?

Accepted Answer

Yes, email us at admin@athmedicalfund.org or join us for our office hours via Zoom.

Monday mornings at 8:30-9:30
Wednesday afternoons at 15:30-16:30

Let us know you're coming to office hours by emailing admin@athmedicalfund.org, and we will send you the Zoom link.

Question 14

Which cohort will I join, and when would I begin studying overseas?

Accepted Answer

Applications are due around September 1 each year (please check the current year's deadline), and those selected form the next cohort. After selection we help you apply to Stanford or Duke (admission is usually confirmed the following March or April), you complete a six-month part-time preparation phase in Taiwan, and then you begin roughly 18 months of funded study overseas that fall. For example, scholars selected in the cycle closing September 1, 2026 would begin their overseas program in fall 2027 (2027 cohort).

Question 15

I'm a resident still completing my specialty training or board exams. Can the program accommodate that?

Accepted Answer

Yes, current residents are welcome to apply, and the program is designed around early-career physicians who are often still in training. The six-month Taiwan preparation phase is part-time (a weekly early-morning Zoom session), and scholars typically keep working clinically throughout it; the overseas portion only begins in the fall. So if you're finishing residency or sitting a board exam mid-year, you can continue your training right up until you depart. The cohort start is tied to the annual Stanford and Duke admissions cycle rather than being freely movable, so if you anticipate needing an unusual timeline, just raise it with us directly.

Question 16

Do I have to pursue a full degree, or is a certificate / non-degree program possible?

Accepted Answer

The scholarship is built around a formal master's degree at one of our partner institutions: the Master's in Health Policy or the MS in Clinical Research & Epidemiology at Stanford, or the MA in Bioethics & Science Policy at Duke. Funding is tied to admission to one of these master's programs, so certificate and non-degree pathways aren't part of the program.

Frequently asked questions